A birthday at the zoo was the focus this week of the Topeka Zoo’s “Tiger Tuesday” feature.

The zoo each week on “Tiger Tuesday” has been sending out a news release with facts and photos featuring its three Sumatran tiger cubs.

Tuesday’s release was accompanied by seven photos, with most of them showing a cub near a photo of longtime Topeka Zoo gorilla Tiffany.

It said: “Three Sumatran Tiger Cubs born at the Topeka Zoo 10 weeks ago took time out of their busy day to send a birthday wish to Tiffany the Gorilla, who celebrated her 46th birthday today. The three cubs planned a party, but unfortunately Tiffany had already made plans at her place. Maybe things will work out better next year.”

The release said the cubs continue to grow and develop well, with all weighing more than 17 pounds and one going over the 19-pound mark Tuesday.

“The cubs are eating meat daily,” the release said. “Their portions will gradually increase as the cubs begin to wean from their mother.”

The release said the cubs are being given access to more inside space so that they can get use to shifting through doors.

It said: “They can all get down from the top of their den box on their own. Over the next few weeks, as they prepare for their public debut, zoo staff will create additional tests to make sure the cubs are physically developed enough to maneuver in and out of obstacles in their outside exhibit.”

The release concluded, “Stay tuned for next Tiger Tuesday when it will be time to talk names for tiny tigers!”

Tiger Tuesday updates are to continue until the cubs are regularly put on display toward the end of this month, said Suzie Gilbert, communications and marketing director for the city.

People who are interested in more regular updates may check in on the cubs and their mother through a live web cam at http://cjon.co/1o519Ap.

Tiffany the gorilla was born July 15, 1968, at the Kansas City, Mo., Zoo. She arrived at the Topeka Zoo in 1969 and for decades maintained a sibling-like relationship with Max, a male gorilla who arrived at the zoo that year. Max died in 2003 after being transferred in 1996 to the Santa Barbara, Calif., Zoo.

Capital-Journal archives say Tiffany lived three years at the Buffalo, N.Y., Zoo in the mid-1980s.